MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Campion Platt, Architect & Luxury Interior Designer Extraordinaire
Campion Platt
This Mover and Shaker interview is sponsored by Star Vodka, the only vodka that Peachy Deegan drinks! Read all about The Peachy Deegan since Star Vodka is the main ingredient: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/11/breaking-news-put-together-three-of.html and Star Vodka is on Shop with Peachy: http://www.whomyouknow.com/p/shop-with-peachy.html
Whether he is designing a custom residence, a home-away- from home boutique hotel, or a line of furniture, carpets, lighting or textiles, interior designer Campion Platt has one thing in mind: bespoke luxury. "Luxury is about both materiality and context," he explains, adding that context might mean creating clear, open spaces within the confines of a Manhattan townhouse, or selecting opulent unexpected finishes to accentuate spatial forms. Campion's ideas of luxury consistently incorporate fine craftsmanship and contemporary styling as well as eco-sensitive design. For the past twenty years, his firm has shown clients across the country how to make modern design both sophisticated.
Campion was born in Boston and grew up in Cambridge Massachusetts. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University. Campion cut his teeth as a young architect at the New York firm Arquitectonica. In 1990, Campion started his own design studio and soon drew attention for his work on several glossy hospitality projects including the MercBar and the Mercer Hotel in New York and the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.. He understands the importance of creating architecture and interiors that meld seamlessly. His holistic approach to design creates highly personalized spaces - making him a favorite of celebrities including Al Pacino, Meg Ryan, Roger Waters, Conan O’Brien, the novelist Jay McInerney and socialite Anne Hearst.
Campion is married to Mover and Shaker Tatiana Platt:
and the couple lives in a duplex penthouse in Soho with their son, Fox and daughter, Xenia. Jeremy, Campion’s oldest son also lives and works in New York.
Campion has received numerous accolades for his holistic approach to design—such as the prestigious ranking on Architectural Digest’s “AD 100” list of the world’s top interior designers and New York Magazine’s “The City’s 100 Best Architects and Decorators,” as well as being published in Architectural Digest, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Wallpaper, Esquire, HC&G and Travel & Leisure.
With a desire to create exceptionally bespoke LUXE and highly personal environments that embrace and celebrate each client’s individual life-style and aesthetic, the seamless synergy of craftsmanship and design is reflected in a combination of hi-end luxury, the latest technology, handmade objects, custom furniture, fixtures and innovative spatial and environmental solutions.
Campion Platt is the author of "MADE TO ORDER", a snapshot of his firm’s highly specialized approach to interior design. Projects featured in the book range from a beautiful Hudson Valley estate, a Jewel Box apartment, a Murray Hill Townhouse, a historic tropical bungalow in Palm Beach and a beautiful Country Manor in Southampton, NY. Whom You Know Highly Recommended Made to Order and it was so outstanding we celebrated our 200th book review with it:
Recent work also includes the designs for the Ritz Carlton Residential tower in Atlanta and two 60 unit turn-key neighborhoods; the Saltraker’s Cove on the island of Ambergris Cay in the Turks & Caicos Island which embraces a water sport lifestyle within a private club environment and the Green Homes at the Greenbrier, an entirely eco-conscious living environment of structures and furnishings, which celebrates the beauty of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
The 2010 digital collaboration with the online virtual Digital Dollhouse and a fully custom Malibu Beach House expresses Campion’s forward thinking in today’s ever expanding world of design.
We are so pleased to present Campion Platt as our latest Mover and Shaker!
Peachy Deegan interviewed Campion Platt for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: What was your favorite space to be in as a child and what did you like about it?
Campion Platt: The Carpenter Center in Cambridge Massachusetts, where I grew up. The building was designed by Le Courbusier and was very kid friendly.
What does luxury mean to you and what should it mean for your clients?
Luxury to me means having the time to enjoy, creating a space to relax and decompress; the same is true for my clients.
What are the most common design mistakes you see in Manhattan?
Not enough storage area created.
What are the most common design mistakes you see in more spacious homes than Manhattan apartments?
Not taking the most advantage of all the connecting spaces between larger spaces/ rooms. Lost opportunities to make a hallway really feel like a room, for instance.
What did you enjoy the most in publishing "Made to Order"?
The opportunity to analyze my work from a distance.
What do you know now about being an author that you wish you knew at the beginning of your literary endeavor?
Own your photographs images.
We love Boston and Peachy lived in the Back Bay right before Manhattan. How would you compare and contrast Boston and New York and what do you like most and least about each?
Boston is more closed society where NYC is very open. Boston feels big, but is small and feels more like a town. Boston embraces the water, where NYC does not (except battery park).
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
Moving to New York after college really inspired me to really do my best, have no regrets and always embrace change.
What are you proudest of and why?
Pride creates delusion, I am really lucky to have an amazing wife and magical kids.
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?
Design a museum.
What honors and awards have you received in your profession?
AD 100 list, Polly Earl Award in 2008 for historic preservation in palm beach
What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
Soho, at home, or skating in central park.
What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
Louis Vuitton, I can always find something great for my wife.
What is your favorite drink?
Pelligrino with 5 limes.
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
Babbo, Mario always treats me like a celeb.
What is your favorite Manhattan book?
The Alchemist and Curious George
If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?
The platts already have a street named, but I guess a kids park.
What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?
Playing hockey for the HBO club team way back when and crossing the 59th street bridge into manhattan at mile 18 of the marathon.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
Suck up that raw energy, there's nothing like it.
What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?
Stuart Pivar used ton have salon music evenings in his west side apartment, magical!
What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
The subway is a great ride and overrated boutique hotels - the service is usually apalling.
Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?
Product Alert-it's always new and informative!
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
Learning to surf this year.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?
